Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

Reset

Towns most like Austin, TX 78741

Austin: median income $66,741, home value $420,100, $267/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tempe, AZ 85281 88%862$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · younger residents
Charlotte, NC 28262 82%1,045$69,231$346,600$184 cheaper homes ($74K less) · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30329 81%823$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32821 79%987$69,348$309,600$212 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95825 78%1,463$64,602$440,200$292 older homes
Provo, UT 84606 77%1,044$52,811$443,600$275 younger residents · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28217 76%1,034$64,028$263,300$233 cheaper homes ($157K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19122 74%1,437$63,676$349,800$247 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Carrboro, NC 27510 74%1,146$61,837$449,700$282 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80216 74%776$82,143$425,700$270 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27606 73%1,164$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($38K more) · more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32256 73%964$73,570$382,500$212 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Saint Petersburg, FL 33716 72%925$75,226$209,800$206 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23510 71%1,313$73,524$385,700$246 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · more walkable
Miami, FL 33130 71%1,111$61,009$517,300$536 pricier homes ($97K more) · older residents · more walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 71%1,076$52,952$440,200$399 smaller · more walkable
Orlando, FL 32801 70%990$80,871$428,000$274 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 70%1,103$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43240 70%1,075$82,895$329,200$224 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80231 70%768$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($81K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85004 70%870$73,750$417,400$331 smaller · more walkable · newer homes
Eugene, OR 97401 70%1,681$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($74K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37208 69%752$65,556$520,000$315 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Memphis, TN 38103 69%560$76,278$397,300$207 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55414 69%1,048$51,966$440,500$233 younger residents

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.